According to troopers, 19-year-old Luis Chavez II of Hickory was driving west on Kool Park Road when he crossed the double-yellow center line, ran off the road, struck an embankment and overturned in Snow Creek.

Troopers said Chavez crawled out of the vehicle to get help.

His cousin, 17-year-old Martin Santillan, was also in the car and died at the scene. Troopers said Santillan wasn't wearing a seatbelt.

Troopers said Chavez claimed he lost control after trying to avoid a vehicle that drifted into his lane. Investigators said they haven't found that vehicle.

Carroll Baker's house overlooks the crash site, and he said this was the second time a driver crashed into the creek.

"It's a very dangerous stretch of road," Baker said. "They definitely need some guard rails so this could not occur again."